Spring loaded screen latch



June 1955 R. MCKEEN 2,710,210 SPRING LOADED SCREEN LATCH Filed Jan. 26, 1953 Fig.

Fig. 2

Leighfon Mc/(een INVENTOR.

United States Patent SPRING LOADED SCREEN LATCH Leighton R. McKeen, Roswell, N. Mex.

Application January 26, 1953, Serial No. 333,124

1 Claim. (Cl. 29267) This invention relates to a spring loaded latch adapted to be used to lock screen doors, window screens, and the like and more particularly to a device of this character in which positive means are provided for limiting the internal movement of elements of the door latch.

The particular object of this invention resides in the provision of a spring loaded latch which may be installed on screen doors, window screens, or the like which will substantially prevent such closure members from rattling while also affording a maximum of safety against the insertion of any tool or jimmy being used in an attempt to lift the latch from its keeper.

Still further objects of this invention reside in the provision of a spring loaded latch that is strong and durable, simple in construction and manufacture, capable of being readily and easily attached to any suitable access closure member, and which may be produced at a relatively low cost for wide distribution.

These, together with the various ancillary objects and features of the invention which will become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by this spring loaded latch, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, by way of example only, wherein:

Figure 1 is front elevational view showing the spring loaded latch comprising the present invention as oper tively installed and in use;

Figure 2 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view as taken along the plane of line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view as taken along the plane of line 33 in Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the device shown in its disengaged position.

With continuing reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, reference numeral generally designates the spring loaded latch comprising the present invention including a detent member 12 forming a keeper which includes a spherical head 14 having a screw driver slot 16 therein in order that the threaded shank 18 may be screwed into and secured to the door frame, sill, or the like.

There is further provided a casing 20 which is provided with a closed end 22 and an open end 24. Within the 2,710,210 Patented June 7, 1955 casing there is slidably positioned a piston 26 to which one end of a link 28 is secured. The other end of the link is formed with an eye 30 which is engaged with a screw eye 32 threadedly secured in the screen door, screen, or other access closure.

The casing 20 is provided with an annular crimp forming an inner annular bead 34 intermediate the ends of the casing 20. The head 34 provides a limit stop for the piston 26. Coaxial with the link 28 is a coil spring 36 which biases the piston 26 and a disc 38 which is slidably mounted on the link 28 and which engages the annular flange 40 extending inwardly about the open end 24 of the casing 20. The head 14 of the threaded member 12 is received within the casing 20 between the bead 34 and the end 22 of the casing 20. An enlarged opening 42 is formed in the casing and communicates with a smaller opening 44 forming an aperture having the outer periphery of a figure 8. The head 14 passes through the opening 42 and the threaded portion 18 is received within the opening 44 to lockingly engage and hold the head 14 within the casing 20.

Since from the foregoing, the construction and advantages of this spring loaded latch are readily apparent, further description is believed to be unnecessary.

However, since numerous modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the foregoing specification and accompanying drawings, it is not intended to limit the invention to the precise embodiment shown and described, but all suitable modi fications and equivalents may be readily resorted to that fall within the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

A spring loaded latch comprising a cylindrical casing having an open end and a closed end, a piston Within said casing, a link secured to said piston extending outside of said casing, a spring about said link engaging said piston, said casing including stop means for limiting the movement of said piston, and a limit disc in said casing, said spring biasing said disc and said piston, said stop means including an inner annular bead in said casing intermediate the ends thereof, and a detent receiving aperture in said casing, said aperture being positioned between said bead and said closed end, and an inwardly extending annular flange at said open end of said casing, said piston engaging said bead, said disc engaging said flange.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,023,680 Protz Apr. 16, 1912 1,151,986 Ackerman et al. Aug. 31, 1915 1,361,622 Saxon Dec. 7, 1920 1,695,544 Gilmore Dec. 18, 1928 FOREIGN PATENTS 26,939 Sweden Sept. 10, 1908 242,449 Great Britain Nov. 12, 1925 328,498 Great Britain May 1, 1930 

